Bathers&#39; hand-grip

ABSTRACT

A HAND-GRIP FOR USE BY BATHERS IS CONSTITUTED BY A FLEXIBLE ELONGATED TUBULAR ANCHORING PORTION HAVING A RETAINER FOR ENGAGEMENT BEHIND THE TAPS OF A BATH TUB AND TWO LEGS AT EACH END THEREOF FOR ENGAGEMENT AGAINST OPPOSED PORTIONS OF THE SIDE WALL OF THE BATH TUB, AND A CROSS-BAR CONNECTED TRANSVERSELY TO THE LEGS AND COMPRESSIBLE AND EXTENSIBLE ALONG ITS LENGTH.

Jan. 19, 1971 F. J. COAKLEY ,5 5"

BATHERS' HAND'GRIP Filed Aug. 8, 1968 Z/WEA/TQR fkH/vc/s I (be/Q 5) United States Patent 3,555,576 BATHERS HAND-GRIP Francis James Coakley, Morton Towers, 1500 Bay Road, Apt. 750, Miami Beach, Fla. 33139 Filed Aug. 8, 1968, Ser. No. 751,129 Int. Cl. A47k 3/12 US. Cl. 4-185 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A hand-grip for use by bathers is constituted by a flexible elongated tubular anchoring portion having a retainer for engagement behind the taps of a bath tub and two legs at each end thereof for engagement against opposed portions of the side wall of the bath tub, and a cross-bar connected transversely to the legs and compressible and extensible along its length.

The object of the present invention is to provide a novel and convenient hand-grip for use by bathers in a conventional bath tub, and especially for the elderly and infirm, by which a firm cross-bar is provided capable of withstanding a pull exerted along the length of the bath tub when rising to the knees and then to a standing position.

In order that the nature of the invention may be readily ascertained, an embodiment of hand grip for use by bathers is hereinafter particularly described by way of non-limiting example with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawing.

In this drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective elevation of the hand-grip, seen mounted in its position of use on a conventional bath tub and engaged behind the taps thereof;

FIG. 2 is a central vertical longitudinal section through the cross-bar portion of the hand-grip.

In the embodiment illustrated in the drawing, the handgrip for use by'bathers comprises a cross-bar portion designated generally by reference numeral 1 and resiliently deformable along its length, and a flexible anchoring portion designated generally by reference numeral 2.

The anchoring portion is constituted by a single elongated piece of tubular material which includes, taken in order from one of its ends to the other, a first foot portion 3 included in a first side leg 4, an intermediate retainer portion 5, and a second opposed leg 6 including a second opposed foot portion 7. The foot portions 3 and 7 are bent downwardly, in relation to their respective associated legs 4 and 6, out of the same plane so that when the entire hand-grip is in its position of use and thus generally horizontal in the bath tub, the foot portions 3 and 7 may abut at their free end against the side wall 8 of the "tub at a position which is sufiiciently below the top edge of the side wall 8 to ensure that the device is prevented from accidental side slip out of engagement with the side wall 8. For a better frictional grip against the side wall 8 of the bath tub, and to avoid scratching of the side wall 8, the free end of each of the foot portions 3 and 7 is provided with a rubber, plastics material, or other resilient smooth cap 9.

At a point along each of the legs 4 and 6, near to the bend at which respective foot portion commences, each leg is apertured to receive a bolt 10 which is also passed through a respective aperture near the end of the crossbar portion 1. A nut is engaged on the bolts 10 and screwed tightly home to hold the cross-bar portion 1 in firm engagement with the legs 4 and 6, but not so tightly as to preclude a slight angular movement, about the axis of the bolts 10, of the cross-bar portion 1 in relation to each of the legs 4 and 6.

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The cross-bar portion 1 comprises (see best in FIG. 2), a first metal tube 11 adjacent to the leg 4, a second similar metal tube 12 adjacent to the leg 6, and an extension tube 13 of somewhat smaller diameter engaged as a force-fit, or by a dimple or the like, in the inner end of the tube 11 and slidably freely longitudinally in the inner end of the tube 11. Acting between the free end of the extension tube 13 and the bolt engaged through the tube 12 there is provided a compression spring 14 housed within the tube 12. The assembly of tubes 11, 12 and 13 accordingly forms a single elongated assembly which is compressible, against the loading of the spring 14, by pressure applied oppositely at its two ends. Each end has a cap 911. The legs 4 and 6 and the retainer portion 5 are made of a tubular material which is resiliently bendable, and the resistance to bending of the legs 4 and 6 and the retainer portion 5 is made less than the force which can be exerted at the bolts 10 by the spring 14 Within the tube 12. Accordingly, the system of parts as a whole tends towards expansion laterally by extension of the tube assembly 11, 12, 13 under the effect of the spring 14. The retainer portion 5 is disposed symmetrically between the leg portions 4 and 6.

The outer end of each of the tubes 11 and 12 extend laterally somewhat beyond the respective bolt 10 so as to form a tenon 11a and 12:: which can overlie the broad rim 8a at the upper part of the side wall of the bath tub. This supports the assembly 11, 12, 13 on top of the side wall 8 of the bath tub, and withstands the downward pull of a person seated in the bath and grasping the assembly 11, 12, 13 as a cross-bar for hauling himself forwards and upwardly.

As the assembly 11, 12, 13 and the legs 4 and 6 and retainer 5 are all resiliently deformable, the bathers hand-grip as a whole can be compressed inwardly and horizontally to permit engagement of the foot portions 3 and 7 within the side wall 8 of the bath tub, and upon subsequent release the foot portions 3 and 7 of the device will automatically spring outwardly and abut firmly against the side wall 8 under the pressure of the spring 14. The device is intended for use with bath tubs in which the lateral spacing of the opposed portions of the side wall 8 is of a known standard width, and the dimensions of the parts of the device would be selected accordingly. However, it will be appreciated that the assembly 11, 12, 13 and the portion including the legs-v 4 and 6 and the retainer 5 may be resiliently deformed within quite wide limits, so that the device is applicable also to bath tubs in which the separation of the portions 8 of the side wall are either not quite standard, or are specifically made considerably non-standard.

The resilient engagement of the foot portions 3 and 7, by their respective rubber or like caps 9, against the side wall 8, is sufiicient to hold the device firmly in position in the bath tub.

The retainer portion 5 is shown as engaged behind two conventional taps 15 of the bath tub. Such taps are normally well able to withstand the amount of force which would be exerted on them by a person pulling themselves upright in the bath tub. Even if the pull exerted is not applied symmetrically, the engagement of the foot portions 3 and 7 serves to retain the device symmetrically in position.

In order to improve the appearance of the device, and to prevent scratching of the bath tub and taps, and to keep the device waterproof, it is provided with a tubular covering of a convenient flexible plastics material such as polyethylene, preferably made white and opaque. This is applied as a tubular slide-fit covering to the assembly of foot portions, legs and retainer 5, and likewise to the assembly of tubes 11, 12, 13. In order to permit the elongation and compression end-for-end of the assembly 11, 12, 13, the portion of such sleeving generally overlying the tube 13 becomes corrugated or stretched taut, as the case may be, according to the degree of compression of the assembly. For ease of assembly, it is convenient to make the sleeving on the assembly 11, 12, 13 in two portions 16 and 16a, one of which is engaged over and cemented to the other.

It will be appreciated that the construction is not restricted to the details illustrated; specifically, (i) the assembly of tubes 11, 12, 13 could be replaced by a pair of tubes of slightly different diameter such that one would slide freely one within the other; (ii) a somewhat longer spring 14 could abut at its ends against both of the bolts 10; (iii) the retainer portion 5 could be dilferently shaped, e.g. so as to form a part-loop designed and dimensioned to receive the two taps as a snug fit therein.

The device as a whole forms a convenient hand-grip for bathers use, permitting the aged or infirm to obtain a convenient forward grip of a firm structure and enabling them to rise to the knees and then to the feet much more easily than would otherwise be the case. The device is very simply placed in its operating position, and is quite firm when so placed, without requiring skilled fitting, It occupies very little space in the bath tub, and can be left permanently in position without inconvenience. When in position it does not interfere with normal use of the taps. The materials required for its manufacture are simple, relatively cheap to obtain in non-corroding form, e.g. aluminium tubing, and not unduly heavy. Shaping and assembly are minimal, and can be performed by unskilled labour.

I claim:

1. A hand-grip for use by bathers, which comprises an anchoring portion having a retainer portion for engagement with taps of a conventional bath tub, and respective leg portions at each end of said retainer portion each having a foot for engagement with opposed portions of an inside wall of said bath tub, said anchoring portion being capable of flexing, and a cross-bar portion disposed transversely to the feet and connected adjacent its ends to the free foot ends of said leg portions, said cross-bar portion being resiliently deformable along its length.

2. A hand-grip for use by bathers, as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said leg portion has at its free end a foot which is bent out of the plane of the remainder of the leg portion, thereby to abut against said inside wall .of said bath at a somewhat lower position.

3. A hand-grip for use by bathers, as claimed in claim 1, wherein each such leg portion is provided at its free end with a resilient cap for abutment against the inside wall of the bath tub.

4. A hand-grip for use by bathers, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the retainer portion is a straight elongated member disposed symmetrically between the two leg portions.

5. A hand-grip for use by bathers, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cross-bar portion comprises first and second tubes, a third tube of somewhat smaller diameter engaged firmly in one of said tubes and slidable freely longitudinally in the other, and spring means disposed in said other tube and acting at one end against the third tube and at the other end against the said one tube.

6. A hand-grip for use by bathers, as claimed in claim 1, wherein end portions of said cross-bar extend laterally beyond the associated leg portions, thereby to form a tenon to seat onto the upper rim of the inside wall of the bath tub.

7. A hand-grip for use by bathers, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the anchoring portion and the cross-bar portion are constituted by metal tubing.

8. A hand-grip for use by bathers, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the anchoring portion and the cross-bar portion are enclosed within a tubular sleeving of plastics material.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,817,095 12/ 1957 Jeffries 4-185 3,228,038 1/ 1966 Augustine 4-185 FOREIGN PATENTS 829,836 3/1960 Great Britain 4l85 LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner J. H. DODGE, Assistant Examiner 

